GENDER DIFFERENCES IN EXERCISE AND RECOVERY BLOOD-PRESSURE RESPONSES IN NORMAL VOLUNTEERS GIVEN DILTIAZEM

This preliminary phase I study was conducted in healthy volunteers to determine whether gender differences exist in the hemodynamic effects of diltiazem at rest, during exercise, and after exercise. At comparab le serum concentrations of the drug, women demonstrated lower systolic and diastolic pressure during exercise and after exercise. ST slope a fter diltiazem administration in women became less positive during exe rcise and was gender specific. Heart rate and P-R interval changes wer e not gender dependent. Results of this study demonstrate that some he modynamic responses to diltiazem are gender specific while others are not. It indicates that direct comparison studies may be required to de tect such differences. In healthy women, hypotension after exercise an d the effects of diltiazem are more synergistic than in men. Such a ge nder difference in response may be an important consideration in deter mining the correct dosages of this drug for treatment of hypertension.